Scotland Sketchbook, Post 26, The Duke of Argyll, Chief of Clan Campbell, Inveraray, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 25, Inveraray Highland Games, Inveraray, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 24, Kilmartin, Carnasserie Castle, and Temple Wood, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 23, Isle of Iona, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 22, Glen Coe, Loch Ness, and Oban, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbook Post 21, Inverness and Culloden, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 20, Cawdor Castle, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 19, Dunkeld on the River Tay, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 18, Scone Palace, Perthshire, Scotland
Scone Palace
Just outside the city of Perth is Scone Palace, the crowning place of Scottish Kings . This took place on Moot Hill and the chapel there on what is known as the Stone of Destiny. The Stone of Destiny is now at Edinburgh Castle, and a replica, known as the Stone of Scone, is on the hill in front of the chapel. The palace name Scone is pronounced "scoon", and the pastry scone (which symbolizes the Stone of Destiny) is pronounced "scon". The magnificent palace, gardens, and chapel are still the residence of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield. A flock of peacocks, along with a beautiful white peacock, also call this bucolic place home.
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 17,
The Black Watch Castle and Museum, Perth, Scotland
The beautiful Balhousie Castle is the home of the Black Watch Museum which houses an incredible collection of uniforms, medals, art, stories and artifacts of the Black Watch Regiments which began in 1725. Six companies were formed, 3 large, and 3 small from the Campbell, Grant, Fraser, and Munro Clans to deter fighting in the various glens and Highlanders raiding Lowlanders. The first muster was in 1740 along the River Tay in a glen. The Campbell Clan had more officers than any other. You can learn more about their history at theblackwatch.co.uk. Upon entering the grounds of the museum is a notable monument for those lives lost in teh Great War and WWII, and most moving are the thousands of little white crosses with red poppies woven into the fence spilling over onto the lawn. In my sketchbook are a few of those heroes who gave their life for their country. The 3 Black Watch Soldiers are painted from a stained glass window in the museum, in a room of remembrance, where the names of all those who gave their lives in the Black Watch Regiment are named. A sobering reminder of the price for freedom and self-determination. I felt so grateful and humbled.
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 16
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 15
CASTLE CAMPBELL
After leaving Edinburgh, we crossed the Firth of Forth and headed to Dollar, Scotland to visit Castle Campbell, originally Castle Gloom. Built in 1430 it was laid to waste by the Marquis of Montrose when Cromwell visited Scotland. The sight is maintained by Historic Scotland today. The souvenir guide was my resource for the timeline on these pages. Following the paved path from the parking lot we walked up and down hill, across a burn by footbridge, past a great oak tree more than 300 years old, and entered the Castle Campbell gates. Climbing up a narrow, winding, tower staircase, we made our way up to the Great Hall, then higher to the bed chambers, and finally to the top of the castle ramparts. It was a wet misty day which added to the great Scotland atmosphere as we surveyed "our" great lands around the castle. I felt transported in time, imagining what it must have felt like to be one of the 5th Earl Campbell 's family attending the wedding of his sister along with Mary, Queen of Scots, as a fellow wedding guest! Magical!!
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 14
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 13
EDINBURGH!! When first walking through a historic city, one of the things that first catches my artist's eye are the doors and gates. I was drawn to the red and blue doors of the cathedrals, and the ironwork of a thistle design and the symbolism of the stag and cross over the gates of Holyrood Palace. The stage and cross represent the legend of the "Miracle of the Stag", which happened during the Feast of the Cross. In 1127 King David of Scotland was hunting in the forest when he was thrown by his frightened horse when a wild stag appeared. The stag attempted to kill the king, the king grabbed the stags horns in an effort to save himself, when he saw a brilliant light in the shape of a cross appear between the stag's horns. The stag turned and ran away. In thanksgiving, King David declared that an abbey should be built in that very spot. In 1128, the abbey was build and named Holyrood which means Holy Cross. Now a palace, it still retains the name today.
Copy of Scotland Sketchbook, Post 12
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 12
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 10
In addition to what I hand wrote in my sketchbook, this site holds many other fascinating memories, starting with the monk, Munnu, who is the namesake of Kilmun (church of Munn). Munnu was an Irish monk who wanted to follow in the footsteps of St. Columba and join the monastery on the Isle of Iona. However, when arrived around 600 AD, Columba had already died, and Munnu was told that Columba had a vision prior to his death that Munnu should start his own monastery. Munnu did just that at Kilmun and played an important role in the spreading of Christianity in the Western Highlands. He and his followers would have farmed the land and fished in the sea, just like the other members of the community. The stone effigies that I painted are of Duncan Campbell of Loch Awe, Chief of Clan Campbell who died in 1453 and his wife Marjorie. In addition to making a grant to the Church of Kilmun, he also made grants to the churches in Dunoon and Perth. " Their sail is furled, their voyage o'er, their souls have reached Christ's holy shore." Unknown; Resource: Historic Kilmun
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 9
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 8
Leaving Inveraray, we traveled over the "Rest and Be Thankful Pass" to the last and best preserved township, called Auchindrain. The day was overcast with a fine mist falling over the incredibly green landscape of pasture, cottages, babbling brooks, and a great black thorn tree. For over a thousand years most people of rural Scotland lived in townships raising sheep, cattle, growing oats, peas, bean, barley, and later potatoes. Cottars, such as tailors, weavers, and fishermen would rent or trade work for rent from the joint tenants of the township. The Auchindrain township survived until 1963 and is now run by the Auchindrain Trust. Queen Victoria visited the sight while visiting the Duke of Argyll at Inveraray Castle in 1875. I felt like a child in a candy store exploring this township, knowing that my family most likely lived in such a cottage in a similar township before they left Scotland. In the sketch of the interior of a cottage, there is a black thorn wood walking cane leaning against the wall. I inherited one just like it from my Uncle Marvin!